Welcome to EPsy 3264: Basic and Applied Statistics.
Andrew Zieffler (zief0002@umn.edu)
Office: Education Sciences Building 178
Office Hours: Tuesday 9:30 AM–10:30 AM; and by appointment
EPsy 3264 is designed to engage students using a modeling and simulation approach to inference. This course uses pedagogical principles that are founded in research, such as daily small group activities and discussion. Upon completion of this course, students should have an understanding of the foundational concepts of data, variation and inference, as well as an appreciation for the fundamental role that statistics plays in a host of disciplines, such as business, economics, law, and medicine.
The course textbook, which includes the out-of-class readings, is available online at http://zief0002.github.io/ statistical-thinking/.
You will work from the lab manual, Statistical Thinking 4.1: A Simulation Approach to Modeling Uncertainty, every day in class. Click here to download a PDF copy of the lab manual. You will need to bring the lab manual to class with you every day.
There are several data sets used in the lab manual, as well as in EPSY 3264 assignments. Click here to download a ZIP file to your computer that includes all the data sets. Once the ZIP file has been downloaded to your computer, double-click the ZIP file to unzip it and access the materials.
Much of the material presented in the lab manual requires the use of TinkerPlotsTM. This software can be downloaded (for Mac or PC), and a license can be purchased from http://www.tinkerplots.com/. Note, since this software needs to be installed, it will not work on a Chromebook or other notebooks that only run web apps.
There are several things you can do to be successful in this course. First and foremost, complete all of the readings and come prepared to class. Complete all of the lab assignments. Ask questions. If you are experiencing problems, need help, or have any questions or other course-related concerns, do not hesitate to get in touch with the instructor or one of the Teaching Assisstants. Note: If you are unable to meet during the scheduled office hours, we can work with you to find a day/time that works in your schedule!
We have four Teaching Assisstants who you can help you with the course material:
Manos Hatzimalonas (manos@philotimo.org)
Office: Education Sciences Building 192
Office Hours: Thursdays 1:00 PM–3:00 PM; and by appointment
Vimal Rao (rao00013@umn.edu)
Office: Education Sciences Building 192
Office Hours: Thursdays 1:00 PM–3:00 PM; and by appointment
Johanna Schultz (schu4338@umn.edu)
Office: Education Sciences Building 192
Office Hours: Thursdays 1:00 PM–3:00 PM; and by appointment
Jesslyn Valerie (valer066@umn.edu)
Office: Education Sciences Building 192
Office Hours: Thursdays 1:00 PM–3:00 PM; and by appointment
Below is the tenative schedule for the class. The dates are subject to change at the instructor’s discretion. Readings should be completed prior to class. Assignments are due at the beginning of the class period that they are due
| Unit 0: Introduction | ||
| Sept. 04 | Introduction to EPsy 3264 | |
| Unit 1: Modeling and Simulation | ||
| Sept. 09 | Reading: Introduction | |
| Reading: Modeling & Simulation | ||
| Spotify Playlists | ||
| Sept. 11 | Reading: Generating Data From Models | |
| Assignment #1 Due (Learning TinkerPlots) | ||
| Generating Random Data—Cat Factory | ||
| Sept. 16 | Reading: Monte Carlo Simulation | |
| Introduction to Monte Carlo Simulation | ||
| Sept. 18 | Assignment #2 Due (Free Throws) | |
| Automating the Simulation Process | ||
| Sept. 23 | Group Quiz #1 | |
| Unit 2: Modeling Sampling Variation | ||
| Sept. 25 | Reading: Modeling Sampling Variation | |
| Monday Breakups | ||
| Sept. 30 | Features of Distributions | |
| Sept. 25 | Reading: Describing Distributions | |
| Assignment #3 Due (Motorcycle Helmet Law) | ||
| Helper or Hinderer | ||
| Oct. 7 | Comparing Hand Spans | |
| Oct. 9 | Assignment #4 Due (College Debt) | |
| Racial Bias in Police Stops | ||
| Oct. 14 | Group Quiz #2 | |
Below are the due dates for the assignments, as well as links to the RMD and PDF files for each assignment. The due dates may change at the instructor’s discretion. Any revised due dates will be announced in class and posted to the website.